Originally Posted by imverge
Room was rather small and A/C only operated if you left your key in slot next to door.
Which means room is HOT everytime I returned. Quickly called for another key to leave in slot at all times. Waited half an hour no one showed... called again and finally had key 45min after first request. Problem was everytime I had my room cleaned housekeeping would take my key with them
Resulting in having NEW keys made everytime. (happened 3 seperate times each with a promise it would be the last)
This is not uncommon in European hotels. Virtually always, all you have to do is put something that fits into that slot--it doesn't read the room key, you're just breaking a contact. So I just leave one of my business cards there, and I've always brought enough that I can afford to lose one to the cleaning staff every day. It does mean that I might come back to a hot room once a day, but at least not every time.